Man caught on video setting SUV on fire in Tavares, police say

TAVARES, Fla.—A Tangerine man accused of setting his girlfriend’s rental SUV on fire is facing an arson charge and a drug charge after Tavares police said they found a baggie of oxycodone pills in the vehicle’s center console during his arrest, according to an arrest affidavit.. Shortly before 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Tavares Police Department received a report of a vehicle fire at an undisclosed location. A caller reported multiple people leaving a home after a vehicle door was opened and flames emerged. TPD and Tavares Fire Department responded and firefighters extinguished the fire, according to the affidavit. While TPD was […]

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Tempers and flames flare up in Eustis domestic incident Tuesday, according to police

EUSTIS, Fla.—A couple is in the Lake County Jail, accused of battering each other and police say one of them intentionally set an apartment on fire. Shortly after 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, Eustis Police Department responded to Crazy Gator, 402 North Bay Street on a report of a domestic battery in progress, according to an arrest affidavit. When they arrived, they found Ashlee Pringle, 35, crying with multiple injuries to her face and neck and she told police her boyfriend, Christopher Walantus, 42, hit her multiple times. She told police the altercation began Monday, and Walantus, under the influence of alcohol

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Leesburg Man Accused of Torching Masonic Lodge Facing More Charges

LEESBURG, Florida—A man who admitted setting the Leesburg Masonic Lodge ablaze is now facing more charges. Luke Pratt, 22, of Leesburg is facing five counts of manufacturing an explosive device with intent to harm after the devices were found in his home on Casteen Road, according to an arrest affidavit. Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Hazardous Devices Team responded to the home after Pratt’s mother reported finding the devices. Pratt, who was already a suspect in the arson and has since been arrested for the crime, is accused of making five devices from plastic, ammonium nitrate. aluminum powder

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Leesburg Man Accused of Torching Masonic Lodge Told Investigator He was Mad at What Lodge Stands For and Believed He was Being Followed

LEESBURG, Florida—A man who admitted setting the Leesburg Masonic Lodge on fire turned himself in late Thursday. Luke Scott Pratt, 22, of Leesburg told an investigator with the Department of Financial Services, Division of Investigative and Forensic Services, Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosive Investigations he was mad at what the lodge stands for and he believed “they” were following him, according to a probable cause affidavit. Pratt told the investigator he sat in the parking lot of a nearby bowling alley with binoculars and waited until everyone exited the building, located at 200 Richey Road, before smashing the front

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“You’ll Remember This,” Granddaughter Tells Grandfather After Setting her Mattress Ablaze, Causing Fire that Destroyed Eustis Home

EUSTIS, Florida—A woman, apparently angry at her grandfather after an argument about money, set her mattress on fire Monday and almost set a vehicle on fire, but changed her mind, she told Eustis Police Department, according to an arrest affidavit. Shortly before 6 p.m. Monday, EPD and Eustis Fire Department responded to a house fire at 2220 Titcomb Street; the victim told EPD he was sitting on the porch following an argument with granddaughter, Autumn Rose Walker, 22, when she came outside and said, “You’ll remember this,” and ran off down the road, the affidavit states. The victim looked inside

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